Creator: Kyoko Ariyoshi
Publisher: DC/CMX
Age Rating: All Ages
Genre: Drama
RRP: $9.99
Swan v10
Reviewed by Dan Polley

It’s the second round of the World Ballet Competition and Masumi needs to dance like she’s never danced before in order to remain in the competition in Kyoko Ariyoshi’s “Swan.” Masumi steps up and delivers the performance of a lifetime. But will she have enough to advance to the next stage of the competition?

However, the competition seems to get lighter when tragedy befalls Masumi. But a teacher, one who has quite a past in the dance field, manages to convince the judges to keep her around for the next round.

But the competition changes drastically in the next round when the competitors find out that the format of the competition will be head-to-head battles. And dancers step out to the same dances, but with drastically different renditions, much to the audience’s chagrin.

The plot doesn’t cover much time wise, as the beginning of the volume starts after the beginning of the competition, but the end of the volume closes before the end of the competition. However, there is enough movement to keep readers interested, with the renditions through which the performers give the audience. And the conflict that Masumi finds herself in in the middle of the volume also provides a great plot point for readers.

The art is graceful and serene, much like many of the renditions of dances displayed within the pages of the volume. The sequences in which the dancers perform daring moves provide Ariyoshi with an opportunity to provide a cohesive artistic display to coincide with the performances.

“Swan” is an appropriate title for the series, which focuses on the world of ballet. And this volume is interesting for the competition dynamic, but doesn’t give back much to the reader outside of the dancing sequences.

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24 November 2009
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